Du Plessis banned for final Test against Pakistan

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis has been suspended for one Test and fined 20 per cent of his match fees, while his players have been fined 10 per cent of their match fees, for maintaining a slow over-rate during South Africa’s nine-wicket victory over Pakistan at Newlands.

The suspension means Du Plessis will miss the third and final game of the series starting at the Wanderers on Friday.

Match referee David Boon imposed the suspension on the Proteas skipper after the hosts were ruled to be one over short after time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with Article 2.22.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, which relates to minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

As Du Plessis had previously been found guilty of a minor over-rate offence during the Centurion Test against India which ended on 17 January 2018, this offence constituted his second minor over-rate offence within a 12-month period.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Bruce Oxenford and Joel Wilson, and third umpire Sundaram Ravi.